Insta hood

ABSTRACT

Insta-Hood is a hood that can be worn on any shirt, jacket or other suitable garment. The invention is a removable hood that is held in place by a non-permanent, reusable attachment means. The design can be constructed from any desired garment material. There may be an additional inch of fabric around the bottom perimeter of the hood, and a series of fasteners on this fabric. A user can remove the hood as desired, and may reuse it any number of times. A person can also easily switch between different hoods to change the look of a garment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is related to and claims priority from priorprovisional application Ser. Nos. 61/825,381; 61/825,390; 61/825,394 allfiled May 20, 2013 which applications are incorporated herein byreference.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understandingthe present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of theinformation provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presentlydescribed or claimed inventions, or that any publication or documentthat is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of hoods andgarments and more specifically relates to an insta-hood system.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Many people in modern society wear garments for warmth and for fashion.These garments, besides being aesthetically pleasing provide protectionfrom environmental elements. People often wear garments (such as shirts,sweaters, or jackets) without hoods because they do not anticipate poorweather, or do not anticipate they will be outside for extended periods.This decision can often lead to getting rained on, sunburned, chilled bygusts of wind, and more. Yet, wearing a hooded garment all the time canbe unnecessarily cumbersome. Also many people would like to wear a hoodas a style statement or as a logo for their favorite team ororganization without having to purchase an entire garment. A garment isdesirable that would allow removable attachment (coupling) of a hood toavoid the above-mentioned problems.

Various attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problemssuch as those found in U.S. Pat. and Pub. Nos. 2,129,454; 2,002,955;7,779,485; 2006/0143795; 5,274,850; and 5,717,999. This art isrepresentative of hoods and garments and head-covering means. None ofthe above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination,is seen to describe the invention as claimed.

Ideally, an insta-hood should provide convenience in-use and comfortand, yet would operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense.Thus, a need exists for a reliable insta-hood system to avoid theabove-mentioned problems.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known hoods andgarments and head-covering means art, the present invention provides anovel insta-hood. The general purpose of the present invention, whichwill be described subsequently, in greater detail, is to provide auser-friendly insta-hood to provide warmth and protection fromenvironmental elements when worn and yet be removably coupable asdesired.

An insta-hood system is disclosed herein in a first embodimentcomprising: a hood that can be worn on virtually any shirt, jacket orother suitable garment. The invention can comprise a removable hood thatis held in place by a non-permanent, reusable attachment means. Thedesign can be constructed from virtually any desired garment material.There may be an additional inch of fabric around the bottom perimeter ofthe hood, and a series of clasps on this fabric in certain embodiments.The additional fabric can be V-shape, and the neckline of a garment canfit between the two halves. The clasps can be used to secure the deviceto the neckline of an article of clothing. A user can remove the hood asdesired, and may reuse it any number of times repeatedly. A person canalso easily switch between different hoods to change the look of agarment. The design can come in virtually any desired style and color.

A second embodiment features a hood that can be effortlessly removed andreattached to any suitable garment. The present invention lets a personconveniently keep a hood accessible without it always being attached toan article of clothing; enables a person to wear the same garment withor without a hood; and protects a person's head (and neck) from wind,precipitation and the sun's rays (when coupled and worn).

Insta-Hood Magnetic Version (second embodiment) is a detachable hoodthat can connect to the neckline of virtually any garment. The inventioncan compromise a removable hood that is held in place on a garment bymeans of magnets embedded in the hood. The design can be constructedfrom any suitable garment material. There may be an additional inch offabric around the bottom perimeter of the hood, and a set of magnetslining this fabric. The additional fabric can be V-shape, and theneckline of a garment can fit between the two halves. The magnets canconnect through the fabric, thereby securing the hood to the article ofclothing until the user removes it. The design can come in varioussizes, colors and styles.

A third embodiment creates a replacement or alternative hood forgarments with removable zipper hoods which features optional garmentswith zippered necklines that can be used with the hood. Insta-Hood‘zipper version’ in this particular embodiment is a detachable zipperhood that can attach to virtually any coat (jacket) or other garment(shirt or the like) with a removable zipper hood. The invention cancomprise a hood with half of a zipper on the neckline that can be usedas a replacement or alternate style option for any garment with azippered neckline. The design can be constructed from any desiredsuitable garment material. There may be an additional inch of fabricaround the bottom perimeter of the hood, and a set of zipper teethlining this fabric. The other set of zipper teeth can line the neck ofthe garment. There can be garments designed specifically to work withthe hood, thereby extending the options for its use. The design can comein all clothing sizes.

An insta-hood system of the third embodiment comprises: an insta-hoodassembly comprising a removably coupleable hood (having, an innersurface providing an inner volume as formed to sit upon a user-wearer'shead, an outer surface, a front-edge, and a bottom-edge with a channel),and at least one fastener; wherein the insta-hood system comprises theinsta-hood assembly and in turn the insta-hood assembly comprises theremovably coupleable hood and the at least one fastener.

The parameters of the removably coupleable hood are defined by the innersurface, the outer surface, the front-edge, the bottom-edge. The atleast one fastener is affixed to the bottom-edge slightly towards theinner surface (but yet adjacent the bottom-edge) and on the garment (topedge); that at least one fastener is useful to removably attach theinsta-hood assembly to a garment, a top of the garment fitting in thechannel (zipper may be located in channel to hide from view), thechannel resting atop the top of the garment when coupled. In this waythe insta-hood assembly may be coupled to the garment as per a desire ofa garment-wearer.

The channel is preferably flexible and may comprise a V-shape, a U-shapeor the like. As mentioned the at least one fastener in this particularembodiment comprises a zipper-fastener assembly; wherein thezipper-fastener assembly comprises a plurality of interlocking teeth, aslider, a pull tab, a bottom-stop and a retainer box. The bottom-stopand the retainer box are preferably located on the removably coupleablehood. The plurality of interlocking teeth are located on the insta-hoodassembly and the garment for matable coupling thereof via the slider asmoved by the pull tab.

As such, the removably coupleable hood comprises a head, and neckcovering means, the garment comprising a body covering means. The innersurface is separated a thickness from the outer surface; the thicknessin combination with the inner surface and the outer surface providing aninsulation to protect the garment-wearer from ambient environmentalelements when the insta-hood assembly is coupled in functionalcombination with the garment. The other alternate embodiments are alsodisclosed in more detail subsequently.

A method of use for the present invention and a kit are also disclosedherein.

The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as aninsta-hood system. For purposes of summarizing the invention, certainaspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have beendescribed herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all suchadvantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particularembodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied orcarried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage orgroup of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving otheradvantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of theinvention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed outand distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification.These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specificationillustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention,insta-hood system, constructed and operative according to the teachingsof the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view illustrating an insta-hood assembly ofan insta-hood system as attached to a garment in an in-use conditionaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the insta-hood assemblycomprising a removably attachable hood with fasteners comprising clipsor clasps that is able to be coupled to the garment according to a firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the insta-hood assembly withreusable magnets provided as a fastening means according to a secondembodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the insta-hood assembly with azipper-fastener assembly being provided as an alternate fastening meansaccording to a third embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of use for the insta-hoodsystem according to embodiments of the present invention of FIGS. 1-4.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter bedescribed in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein likedesignations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to hoodsand garments and more particularly to an insta-hood system as used toimprove the flexibility of use of garments.

Generally speaking insta-hood system comprises insta-hood assembly withremovably coupleable hood having fastening means for use by garmentwearers; garments and removably coupleable hood materials may includewool, silk, cotton, rayon and other suitable fabrics. The top edge ofthe garment may be a straight, horizontal line where the removablycoupleable hood is attachable thereto. The bottom-edge of the hood maybe split into a V shape that extends the length of the hood by about 1″.Certain embodiments may utilize a series of clasps on the bottom edge ofthe hood that secure the hood to the top edge of the garment. Otherembodiments may use other suitable fastening means such as clips,clamps, magnets, zipping means, hook and loop fastening means or thelike.

Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown inFIG. 1, a perspective view illustrating insta-hood assembly 110 ofinsta-hood system 100 as attached to a garment 160 in an in-usecondition 150 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Insta-Hood 102 comprises a hood that can be worn on virtually anygarment 160 (shirt, jacket, sweater or the like). The present inventioncan comprise removably coupleable hood 120 that is held in place by anon-permanent, reusable attachment means (clips, clasps, hook and loopor the like—generally referred to as removably attachable means 130).Garment 160 may be constructed from any desired garment material. Theremay be an additional inch of fabric around the bottom perimeter(bottom-edge 124) of removably coupleable hood 120, and a series ofclasps 134 on this fabric in certain embodiments. Clasps 134 can be usedto secure the device to neckline 162 of an article of clothing (garment160). A user can remove removably coupleable hood 120 as desired, andmay reuse it any number of times, repeatedly. A person can also easilyswitch between different removably coupleable hoods 120 to change thelook of garment 160. The design can come in any desired style and color.

Insta-hood system 100 comprises: insta-hood assembly 110 comprisingremovably coupleable hood 120 (having inner surface 121, outer surface122, front-edge 123, and bottom-edge 124 with channel 126), and at leastone fastener 132 (removably attachable means 130). Insta-hood system 100comprises the insta-hood assembly 110, as mentioned; wherein insta-hoodassembly 110 comprises removably coupleable hood 120 and the at leastone fastener 132 in functional connection to each other.

The parameters of removably coupleable hood 120 are defined by innersurface 121, outer surface 122, front-edge 123, and bottom-edge 124;bottom-edge 124 being split so as to form and define channel 126. Inthis particular embodiment at least one fastener 132 is affixed to innersurface 121 adjacent bottom-edge 124. At least one fastener 132 isfunctionally useful to removably attach insta-hood assembly 110 togarment 160, a top of garment 160 fitting in channel 126; channel 126resting atop the top of garment 160 when coupled; insta-hood assembly110 coupled to garment 160 as per a desire of a garment-wearer, asshown. In preferred embodiments channel 126 is flexible; however incertain embodiments channel 126 may be semi-rigid.

Inner surface 121 is separated a thickness 128 from outer surface 122,the thickness 128 in combination with inner surface 121 and outersurface 122 providing an insulation to protect the garment-wearer fromambient environmental elements when insta-hood assembly 110 is coupledin functional combination with garment 160. As such, removablycoupleable hood 120 comprises a head, and neck covering means; garment160 comprising a body covering means.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a perspective view illustrating insta-hoodassembly 110 comprising removably coupleable hood 120 with fasteners 132comprising clips 134 or clasps 136 that is able to be coupled to garment160 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Insta-hood system 100 may comprise the at least one fastener 132 toprovide removably attachable means 130 comprising clips 134 or clasps136. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that,under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as userpreferences, design preference, structural requirements, marketingpreferences, cost, available materials, technological advances, etc.,other fastening arrangements such as, for example, clamps, buttons,snaps, hook and loop, etc., may be sufficient. Those with ordinary skillin the art will now appreciate that upon reading this specification andby their understanding the art of fastening means as described herein,methods of fastening and unfastening using various fasteners will beunderstood by those knowledgeable in such art.

Garment 160 may comprise jacket 164 or shirt 166. Upon reading thisspecification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriatecircumstances, considering such issues as user preferences, designpreference, structural requirements, marketing preferences, cost,available materials, technological advances, etc., other garments suchas, for example, sweaters, non-jackets, pull-overs, etc., may besufficient. As such, garment 160 is (at least) selected from the groupconsisting of shirt 166, jacket 164, and sweater. In a similar manner isshould be appreciated that the at least one fastener 132 is selectedfrom the group consisting of magnets 138, clips 134, clasps 136, andzipper-fastener assemblies 140.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a perspective view illustrating insta-hoodassembly 110 with reusable magnets 138 provided as fastening means(removably attachable means 130) according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention of FIG. 1.

A second embodiment features removably coupleable hood 120 that can beeffortlessly removed and reattached to virtually any garment 160. Thepresent invention lets a person conveniently keep a hood (head and neckcovering means) accessible without it always being attached to anarticle of clothing (garment 160); enables a person to wear the samegarment 160 with or without a hood (head and neck covering means); andprotects a person's head from wind, precipitation and the sun's rays(when coupled and worn).

Insta-Hood Magnetic version (second embodiment) shown in FIG. 3 is adetachable hood (removably coupleable hood 120) that can connect to theneckline of virtually any garment 160. The invention can compriseremovably coupleable hood 120 that is held in place on garment 160 bymeans of embedded magnets 138. The design can be constructed from anysuitable garment material. There may be an additional inch of fabricaround the bottom perimeter of Insta-Hood 102, and a set of magnets 138lining this fabric. The additional fabric can be V-shape, and theneckline of garment 160 can fit between the two halves. Magnets 138 canconnect through the fabric, thereby securing removably coupleable hood120 to the article of clothing (garment 160) until the user removes it.The design can come in various sizes, colors and styles. In thisparticular embodiment at least one fastener 132 comprises a plurality offirst-magnets 137 and a plurality of second-magnets 139; whereinfirst-magnets 137 are removably attachable to second-magnets 139 totemporarily couple insta-hood assembly 110 to garment 160.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a perspective view illustrating insta-hoodassembly 110 with zipper-fastener assembly 140 being provided as analternate fastening means (removably attachable means 130) according toa third embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

A third embodiment creates a replacement or alternative hood for garment160 with removable zipper hoods which features optional garments withzippered necklines that can be used with removably coupleable hood 120.Insta-Hood Zipper version in this particular embodiment is a detachablezipper hood that can attach to any coat (jacket 164) or other garmentwith a removable zipper hood. The invention can comprise removablycoupleable hood 120 with half of a zipper (first zipper-portion 142) onneckline 162 that can be used as a replacement or alternate style optionfor any garment 160 with a zippered neckline 162. The design can beconstructed from any desired suitable garment material. There may be anadditional inch of fabric around the bottom perimeter (bottom-edge 124)of removably coupleable hood 120, and a set of zipper teeth (secondzipper-portion 144) lining (running adjacent on) this fabric. The otherset of zipper teeth (first zipper-portion 142) can line the neck ofgarment 160. There can be garments designed specifically to work withthe hood, thereby extending the options for its use. The design can comein all clothing sizes.

In this particular embodiment at least one fastener 132 comprises azipper-fastener assembly 140 comprising a plurality of interlockingteeth (comprising first zipper-portion 142 and second zipper-portion144), slider 146 pull tab 148, and bottom-stop 149. Bottom-stop 149 ispreferably located on removably coupleable hood 120. This particularembodiment further preferably comprises retainer box 147; whereinretainer box 147 is preferably also located on removably coupleable hood120. Other fastener and combinations thereof may be used and locationsmay be switched as desired and still fall within the scope of thepresent disclosure.

Insta-hood system 100 may be sold as kit 440 comprising the followingparts: at least one insta-hood assembly 110 at least one garment 160; atleast one removably attachable means 130; (magnets, clasps, clamps,clips, zippers or other suitable fastening means and extra replacementfasteners); and at least one set of user instructions. Insta-hood system100 may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizesand shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon reading thisspecification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriatecircumstances, considering such issues as design preference, userpreferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements,available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit contents orarrangements such as, for example, including more or less components,customized parts, different garment/hood/fastening combinations, partsmay be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient.

Referring now to FIG. 5, flowchart 550 illustrating a method of use 500for the insta-hood system 100 according to embodiments of the presentinvention of FIGS. 1-4.

Method of use 500 may comprise the steps of: step one 501 installingremovably coupleable hood 120 onto garment 160; step two 502 donninginsta-hood assembly 110 for protection from environmental elements orfor fashion; step three 503 removing removably coupleable hood 120 fromgarment 160 when desired.

It should be noted that step 502 is an optional step and may not beimplemented in all cases, as in cases where garment 160 is worn.Optional steps of method 500 are illustrated using dotted lines in FIG.5 so as to distinguish them from the other steps of method 500.

It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can becarried out in many different orders according to user preference. Theuse of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claimsherein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112,¶6. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that,under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as designpreference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structuralrequirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., othermethods of use arrangements such as, for example, different orderswithin above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps,including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc., may besufficient.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary andnumerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readilyenvisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which areintended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention.Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially thescientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure ofthe application.

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims:
 1. An insta-hood system comprising: aninsta-hood assembly comprising; a removably coupleable hood having; aninner surface; an outer surface; a front-edge; and a bottom-edge with achannel; and at least one fastener; wherein said insta-hood systemcomprises said insta-hood assembly; wherein said insta-hood assemblycomprises said removably coupleable hood and said at least one fastener;wherein parameters of said removably coupleable hood are defined by saidinner surface, said outer surface, said front-edge, said bottom-edge;wherein said at least one fastener is affixed to said inner surfaceadjacent said bottom-edge; wherein said at least one fastener is usefulto removably attach said insta-hood assembly to a garment, a top of saidgarment fitting in said channel, said channel resting atop said top ofsaid garment when coupled, said insta-hood assembly coupled to saidgarment as per a desire of a garment-wearer; and wherein said innersurface is separated a thickness from said outer surface, said thicknessin combination with said inner surface and said outer surface providingan insulation to protect said garment-wearer from ambient environmentalelements when said insta-hood assembly is coupled in functionalcombination with said garment.
 2. The insta-hood system of claim 1wherein said at least one fastener comprises a plurality offirst-magnets.
 3. The insta-hood system of claim 2 wherein said garmentcomprises a plurality of second-magnets.
 4. The insta-hood system ofclaim 3 wherein said first-magnets are removably attachable to saidsecond-magnets to temporarily couple said insta-hood assembly to saidgarment.
 5. The insta-hood system of claim 4 wherein said removablycoupleable hood comprises a head, and neck covering means, said garmentcomprising a body covering means.
 6. The insta-hood system of claim 3wherein said channel is flexible.
 7. The insta-hood system of claim 1wherein said at least one fastener comprises clips.
 8. The insta-hoodsystem of claim 1 wherein said at least one fastener comprises clasps.9. The insta-hood system of claim 1 wherein said at least one fastenercomprises a zipper-fastener assembly.
 10. The insta-hood system of claim9 wherein said zipper-fastener assembly comprises a plurality ofinterlocking teeth, a slider and a pull tab.
 11. The insta-hood systemof claim 10 further comprising a bottom-stop.
 12. The insta-hood systemof claim 11 wherein said bottom-stop is located on said removablycoupleable hood.
 13. The insta-hood system of claim 12 furthercomprising a retainer box.
 14. The insta-hood system of claim 13 whereinsaid retainer box is located on said removably coupleable hood.
 15. Theinsta-hood system of claim 1 wherein said garment comprises a jacket.16. The insta-hood system of claim 1 wherein said garment comprises ashirt.
 17. The insta-hood system of claim 1 wherein said garment isselected from the group consisting of shirt, jacket, and sweater. 18.The insta-hood system of claim 1 wherein said at least one fastener isselected from the group consisting of magnets, clips, clasps, andzipper-fastener assemblies.
 19. An insta-hood system comprising: aninsta-hood assembly comprising; a removably coupleable hood having; aninner surface; an outer surface; a front-edge; and a bottom-edge with achannel; and at least one fastener; wherein said insta-hood systemcomprises said insta-hood assembly; wherein said insta-hood assemblycomprises said removably coupleable hood and said at least one fastener;wherein parameters of said removably coupleable hood are defined by saidinner surface, said outer surface, said front-edge, said bottom-edge;wherein said at least one fastener is affixed to said inner surfaceadjacent said bottom-edge; wherein said at least one fastener is usefulto removably attach said insta-hood assembly to a garment, a top of saidgarment fitting in said channel, said channel resting atop said top ofsaid garment when coupled, said insta-hood assembly coupled to saidgarment as per a desire of a garment-wearer; wherein said channel isflexible; wherein said at least one fastener comprises a zipper-fastenerassembly; wherein said zipper-fastener assembly comprises a plurality ofinterlocking teeth, a slider, a pull tab, a bottom-stop and a retainerbox; wherein said bottom-stop and said retainer box are located on saidremovably coupleable hood; wherein said plurality of interlocking teethare located on said insta-hood assembly and said garment for matablecoupling thereof via said slider as moved by said pull tab; wherein saidremovably coupleable hood comprises a head, and neck covering means,said garment comprising a body covering means; and wherein said innersurface is separated a thickness from said outer surface, said thicknessin combination with said inner surface and said outer surface providingan insulation to protect said garment-wearer from ambient environmentalelements when said insta-hood assembly is coupled in functionalcombination with said garment.
 20. The insta-hood system of claim 19further comprising a kit, said kit including said garment, saidinsta-hood assembly, and a set of user instructions.